The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Zone D, has issued a stern warning that academic activities at Rivers Polytechnics could be brought to a complete halt if lecturers' allowances are not implemented by the end of November. Dr Richard Iloma, the ASUP Zone D Coordinator, made the announcement in a statement released on Monday in Port Harcourt.
In his directive, Iloma instructed union chairmen across three Rivers State institutions — Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori; Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola; and Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Port Harcourt — to mobilize their members for a total shutdown should the allowances remain unpaid. The affected institutions span both urban and rural areas within the state.
The union is demanding the full implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) for all lecturers in state-owned polytechnics and colleges of technology. According to Iloma, the Federal Government and ASUP signed an agreement on April 8, 2026, stipulating that these allowances would be implemented from January 2026. He noted that while federal polytechnics have already implemented the allowances, state governments are expected to extend the benefits to lecturers in their respective institutions.
Iloma revealed that ASUP's national leadership had written to state governors on August 5, 2026, and again on September 21, 2026, urging them to comply with the agreement. He described the level of compliance by state governments as unsatisfactory so far.
He further explained that the union's National Executive Council, during its 118th regular meeting held on October 22 in Abuja, had directed the issuance of a 15-day ultimatum to the affected state governments. The ultimatum took effect from October 27, with zonal coordinators tasked to monitor compliance and engage stakeholders.
Iloma confirmed that the Rivers ASUP chapters would adhere to the directives of the national leadership. He stated: 'Consequently, I hereby direct ASUP chairmen in the three polytechnics in Rivers to immediately mobilise their members for a total shutdown. The shutdown of tertiary institutions will commence if, at the expiration of this notice, there is no strong indication that CATA/EAA will be implemented by the end of November.'
The warning signals a potential escalation in the ongoing dispute between ASUP and state governments over lecturer compensation in Nigeria's polytechnic sector, raising concerns about the disruption of tertiary education across the affected institutions.